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Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep, I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Luke 15: 4-7

The parable of the lost sheep is a powerful reminder of God’s relentless love and pursuit of each one of us. Despite the presence of the ninety-nine, Jesus highlights the immeasurable value of the one. This story is not about abandonment but about priority – about the lengths our Good Shepherd will go to restore what is lost.

It’s easy to feel insignificant or unworthy amidst the crowd. But this parable affirms that we are never overlooked by God. You are irreplaceable in His eyes, and He will do whatever it takes to bring you back into the fold, no matter how far you may have wandered. His love does not dimmish because of our mistakes; instead, it grows in compassion.

If you have strayed or feel lost, take heart. You have a Shepherd who searches, who calls, and who carries you home with rejoicing. Reflect on the depth of love it takes to leave the ninety-nine for you – to value every individual with that much care.

Today, consider this truth deeply. Know that God’s love is not just for the masses – it is personal, relentless, and completely for you.